Process and apparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages

ABSTRACT

A process and apparatus for the production of a beverage distills aqueous influent into a forerun overhead fraction that is the first result of a distillation operation, a distillate, and a bottom products fraction that is left over from the aqueous influent without being distilled. The forerun overhead fraction is removed, the distillate is sterilized and remineralized into the beverage, and the bottom products fraction is removed so the process can begin again with more aqueous influent.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for theproduction, particularly domestic production, of beverages, particularlymineral water of desired characteristics.

BACKGROUND ART

Certain beverages are known to be produced industrially fromappropriately conditioned mineral water to which natural and/orsynthetic flavourings are added, and also domestically using drinkingwater from the public mains.

The drinking water supplied by the water mains normally presents adisagreeable taste due to the conditioning substances added to it, andnot infrequently is also dangerous to the health by virtue of containingpollutant substances such as atrazine.

The above problems are only partly solved by home-made drink makingapparatuses, which are normally based on ion-exchange resins andfilters. These, however, eventually lose their effectiveness, and mayindeed harbour bacteria in the form of pollutants accumulated in thefilters and resulting in the formation of stagnant pockets.

Such problems are also not fully solved by apparatus shown inFR-A-1389616, wherein the polluted water is firstly distilled, thencondensed and remineralized by percolating the distillate onto a blockof mineral salts. In fact, the majority of the pollutants, such asatrazine, pass into the distillate and, consequently, are noteliminated. GB-A-118482 and CA-A-1214746 show standard distilationtechniques, which, however, are not of use, because the distilled watercannot be used as such for drinking.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a process andapparatus for the production, particularly domestic production, ofbeverages, designed to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and whichprovides for both long-term reliability and troublefree, low-costproduction.

According to the present invention, there is provided a process for theproduction, particularly domestic production, of beverages from anaqueous influent of any composition, comprising stages consisting in:

demineralizing said aqueous influent by distillation;

sterilizing the distillate formed in said demineralizing stage; and

remineralizing said distillate by forming a solution of the same and amineral additive of a predetermined composition; characterized in thatsaid distillate is formed by removing respective overhead and bottomproducts of said distillation.

According to the present invention, there is also provided an apparatusfor the production, particularly domestic production, of beverages froman aqueous influent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described byway of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an apparatus for producing beverages inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment of an apparatus forproducing beverages in accordance with the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates, schematically, an apparatus for theproduction, particularly domestic production, of beverages 2 from anaqueous influent 3.

According to the present invention, apparatus 1 comprises an influentstorage tank 4 connected by an on-off valve 5 to a water supply 6, e.g.the public water mains.

Via a circulating pump 9 and a device 11 for cooling beverage 2, a firstpipe 7 connects storage tank 4 hydraulically to a boiler 8, and iscontrolled by a first one-off valve 12. A second branch pipe 13 upstreamfrom valve 12 connects first pipe 7 hydraulically to the cooling circuit14 of a condenser 15.

Downstream from boiler 8, a third pipe 16 with a second on-off valve 18connects boiler 8 hydraulically to condenser 15.

According to the present invention, downstream from condenser 15, afourth pipe 21 is provided with a three-way valve 22 for selectivelyfeeding the condensate 23 from condenser 15 to a storage vessel 24 andfrom there to a drain tank 25, and to a mixer 26 via a filter 27, inthis case an active-carbon type.

Downstream from mixer 26, a collecting tank 28 with a tap 29 is providedfor collecting and dispensing beverage 2, and is cooled by device 11, inthis case a Peltier-effect device connected to first pipe 7 and having atemperature sensor 39f.

According to the present invention, a fifth branch pipe 31 upstream fromfilter 27 is provided for feeding part of condensate 23 in fourth pipe21 from condenser 15 to a respective tank 32 for collecting anddispensing distilled water 33.

Mixer 26 presents a dispenser 34 for soluble tablets 35 having apredetermined mineral composition, and with which to remineralizecondensate 23 from condenser 15 and filter 27, and produce beverage 2.

Apparatus 1 is conveniently equipped, in the FIG. 1 example, with acontrol system 36 for controlling the various operations in the processfor producing beverage 2.

Control system 36 is a microprocessor type, and presents respectiveregisters 37 in which the minimum and maximum performance times of thevarious operations for producing beverage 2 are stored; and a data inputboard 38 having a known counter (not shown) for controlling theperformance time of the various operations in the process, and connectedby respective cables 30 (shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1) to anumber of sensors 39 on, and for controlling the respective operatingparameters of, the various component elements of apparatus 1.

Control system 36 also presents an output board 40 for controlling thevarious actuators on apparatus 1, such as valves 5, 18 and 22, pump 9,mixer 26, cooling device 11, etc., on the basis of information receivedfrom sensors 39 via board 38 and processed by a known microprocessor(not shown) on system 36 according to a given program stored in a knownmemory area (not shown) on system 36.

According to the present invention, system 36 may conveniently beprovided with a known console and screen (not shown) for displayingnormal operating messages, and also alarms relative to malfunctioning ofapparatus 1.

According to the present invention, the process for producing beverage 2substantially comprises a first stage wherein aqueous influent 3 isdemineralized by distillation. In this first stage, aqueous influent 3is withdrawn by pump 9 from storage tank 4, and a first part of a firstfraction 42 of influent 3 is fed, by opening valve 12, to boiler 8 forwashing the boiler, and is drained into tank 25 by opening a secondvalve 43 connecting the bottom of tank 8 to drain tank 25 along a pipe41.

Valve 43 is then closed and boiler 8 filled with a second part of firstfraction 42 of influent 3, as indicated by a level sensor 39a; valve 18on top of boiler 8 is closed; and, by means of a resistor 46, the secondpart of first fraction 42 of influent 3 inside boiler 8 is heated underpressure to a predetermined temperature controlled by temperature sensor39b (which may be replaced by a pressure sensor for detecting a givenoverpressure).

On reaching said predetermined temperature, the heating is cut off, andboiler 8 maintained for a given length of time at above atmosphericpressure to completely sterilize said second part of first fraction 42inside boiler 8.

At this point, valve 18 downstream from boiler 8 is opened, and overheadis drained along pipe 16 into condenser 15 and via pipe 21 and three-wayvalve 22 into storage vessel 24. When this is full, as indicated bylevel sensor 39d, system 36 opens a fourth on-off valve 52 along pipe52a between storage vessel 24 and drain tank 25, so as to drain away adistillate overhead forerun fraction into tank 25, which is fitted witha level sensor 39c for indicating when it is full.

Condenser 15 is cooled by continuously feeding a second fraction 47 ofaqueous influent 3 (along branch pipe 13) into cooling circuit 14, whichsecond fraction 47 is then fed back into storage tank 4, the heatcapacity of which is high enough to act as a disperser and sosubstantially restore second fraction 47 of influent 3 to its originaltemperature.

Level sensor 39d in vessel 24 also informs system 36 when all ofdistillate overhead forerun fraction has been drained off

On receiving said signal, system 36 feeds condensate 23 throughthree-way valve 22 and active-carbon filter 27 to a device 48 forremineralizing and collecting beverage 2, and consisting of mixer 26 andcollecting tank 28, where condensate 23 may conveniently beremineralized by dissolving a tablet 35 from dispenser 34. Anundistilled bottom products fraction 53 remaining in the boiler 8 isdrained away along pipe 41 (by opening valve 43).

Mixer 26 also presents a level sensor 39e for controlling the volume ofcondensate 23 inside the mixer, and for supplying system 36 with aninput signal for releasing tablets 35.

According to the variation shown in FIG. 2, wherein any parts similar oridentical to those already described are indicated using the samenumbering system, mixer 26 may conveniently be fitted with a number ofdispensers 34 for soluble tablets 35, each having a predeterminedmineral composition, possibly differing from the others, and with orwithout natural or synthetic flavourings for producing, with the sameapparatus 1, a number of different beverages 2 catering to a wide rangeof different tastes.

In this particular embodiment, collecting tank 28 provides for directlycollecting condensate 23 from filter 27, and is connected hydraulicallyupstream from mixer 26, which presents a tap 29 for beverage 2 and mayconveniently be fitted with a device (54) for charging beverage 2 withgas. In this embodiment, therefore, condensate 23 from filter 27 iscollected directly inside cooled tank 28, and is fed as required intomixer 26 for preparing and dispensing the required beverage, thusenabling a wide range of different beverages to be produced on the sameapparatus.

The advantages of the present invention will be clear from the foregoingdescription. In particular, apparatus 1 provides for producing, evendomestically, a wide range of water-based beverages (from drinkingwater, such as fizzy or natural mineral water, to soft drinks, such asorangeade, etc.) at a lower cost as compared with currently marketedbeverages. Moreover, apparatus 1 is extremely versatile and reliable, byvirtue of providing for troublefree, low-cost changeover from onebeverage to another, by simply changing the tablet inside the dispenser.

To those skilled in the art it will be clear that changes may be made tothe apparatus as described and illustrated herein without, however,departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, tank 4need not necessarily be connected directly to water mains 6, but may betopped up each time in batch manner, e.g. manually using a bucket orjug, and with mains or well water. Similarly, tank 25 may be drainedmanually or by means of a pipe.

I claim:
 1. A process for the production of a beverage (2) from anaqueous influent (3) comprising:processing a first fraction (42) of anaqueous influent (3) by distillation to obtain from said aqueousinfluent a distillate forerun overhead fraction (51), a distillate (23)and an undistilled bottom products fraction (53), whereby saiddistillate (23) is demineralized; sterilizing said distillate (23);remineralizing said distillate (23) by forming a solution of the sameand a mineral additive (35), whereby to form a beverage; draining awaysaid distillate forerun overhead fraction (51) and said undistilledbottom products fraction (53); condensation of said distillate in acondenser (15) cooled by a second fraction (47) of said aqueous influent(3); storing said aqueous influent (3) in a storage tank (4); pumpingsaid aqueous influent (3) from said storage tank (4) and dividing thesame into said first (42) and second (47) fractions thereof; and feedingsaid second fraction (47) back into said storage tank (4) from saidcondenser (15); wherein said storage tank (4) has sufficient volume topresent a heat capacity enabling said storage tank (4) to act as a heatdisperser.
 2. A process for the production of a beverage (2) from anAqueous influent (3), comprising:processing a first fraction (42) of theaqueous influent (3) by distillation to obtain from said aqueousinfluent (3) a distillate forerun overhead fraction (51), a distillate(23) and an undistilled bottom products fraction (53), whereby saiddistillate (23) is demineralized; sterilizing said distillate (23);remineralizing said distillate (23) by forming a solution of the sameand a mineral additive (35), whereby to form a beverage; draining awaysaid distillate forerun overhead fraction (51) and said undistilledbottom products fraction (53); and using a processing unit (36) tocontrol sequentially: withdrawing said first fraction (42) of saidaqueous influent (3) from a storage tank (4); feeding a first part ofsaid first fraction (42) of said aqueous influent (3) into a boiler (8)by opening a first valve (12) for washing said boiler (8), andsubsequently draining said first part of said first fraction (42) ofsaid aqueous influent (3) into a drain tank (25) via a second valve(43); closing said second valve (43) and filing said boiler (8) to apredetermined level with a second part of said first fraction (42) ofsaid aqueous influent (3); closing a third valve (18) on a top of saidboiler (8) and heating said second part of said first fraction (42) ofsaid aqueous influent (3) inside said boiler (8) so as to pressurizesaid boiler (8) to a pressure above atmospheric pressure; cutting offsaid heating and maintaining said pressure inside said boiler (8) forsterilizing of said second part of said first fraction (42) of saidaqueous influent (3); opening said third valve (18), draining saiddistillate forerun overhead fraction (51) of said second part of saidfirst fraction (42) of said aqueous influent (3) into a condenser (15),and, via a fourth valve (22) downstream from said condenser (15),feeding said distillate forerun overhead fraction (51) into said draintank (25) via a storage vessel (24) of given volume located upstreamfrom said drain tank (25); feeding said distillate (23) from saidcondenser (15) through an active-carbon filter (27) and into a device(48) for said remineralizing; and collecting said beverage (2) from saiddevice (48).
 3. The process as claimed in claim 2, and furthercomprising:filling a mixer (26) of said device (48) to a predeterminedlevel with said distillate (23); feeding at least one soluble tablet(35) with a predetermined mineral composition into said mixer (26);activating said mixer (26) to fully dissolve said tablet (35) and soobtain said beverage (2); cooling said beverage; and withdrawing saidbeverage with at least one tap (29) at a predetermined temperature. 4.An apparatus (1) for the production of a beverage (2) from an aqueousinfluent (3), comprising:a storage tank (4) for storing an aqueousinfluent (3); a boiler (8) for receiving a first fraction of saidaqueous influent, said boiler (8) having heating means (46) forevaporating at least a part of said first fraction of said aqueousinfluent; a condenser (15) connected to an overhead outlet of saidboiler (8); a mixer (26) for remineralizing a distillate (23) receivedfrom said condenser (15) into a beverage (2); a collecting tank (28) forcollecting said beverage (2); and hydraulic means for feeding from saidstorage tank (4) said first fraction of said aqueous influent into saidboiler (8) and, for cooling said condenser (15), a second fraction ofsaid aqueous influent, collecting and drain means (24,25) for receivinga distillate forerun overhead fraction (51) of said first fraction ofsaid aqueous influent from said condenser (15), and selectivelyactivated hydraulic connecting means between said storage tank (4) andsaid boiler (8), said overhead outlet and said condenser (15), saidcondenser (15) and said mixer (26) and said mixer (26) and saidcollecting tank (28), said selectively activated hydraulic connectingmeans including a first valve (22) downstream of said condenser (15) forselectively connecting said outlet to said collecting and drain means(24, 25) and to said mixer (26) and a second valve (43) to connect saidboiler (8) to said drain tank (25) for said first and second valves(22,43) to remove said distillate forerun overhead fraction (51) and,from said boiler (8), a bottom products fraction (53) of said firstfraction of said aqueous influent.
 5. An apparatus (1) as claimed inclaim 4 further comprising: a control system (36); a first pipe (7)hydraulically connecting said storage tank (4) and said boiler (8)through a regulating valve (12); a second branch pipe (13) hydraulicallyconnecting said first pipe (7) to a circuit (14) for cooling saidcondenser (15); a third pipe (16) located downstream from said boiler(8) and fitted with a valve (18) hydraulically connecting said boiler(8) to said condenser (15); and a fourth pipe (21) located downstreamfrom said condenser (15) and fitted with a three-way valve (22) forselectively feeding said collecting and drain means (24,25) and, via anactive-carbon filter (27), said mixer (26).
 6. An apparatus (1) asclaimed in claim 5, wherein said collecting tank (28) is cooled by adevice (11) for cooling said beverage (2), said cooling device (11)being connected to said hydraulic circuit (3).
 7. An apparatus (1) asclaimed in claim 6, further comprising a fifth branch pipe (31) upstreamfrom said filter (27), for feeding part of the distillate (23) comingfrom said condenser (15), along said fourth pipe (21), to a respectivetank (32) for collecting and distributing distilled water (33).
 8. Anapparatus (1) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said mixer (26) presents adispenser (34) for soluble tablets (35) with which to mineralize saiddistillate (23).
 9. An apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 7 wherein saidmixer (26) presents a number of dispensers (34) for soluble tablets (35)having a mineral compositions differing to one another and containingnatural or synthetic flavorings.
 10. An apparatus (1) as claimed inclaim 5, further comprising a tap (29) on said collecting tank (28) orsaid mixer (26); and a device (54) for charging said beverage (2) withgas as it is drawn off from said tap (29).